Block toy



- Sept; -7, 1937. w. o. YANcEY' 2,092,687

BLOCK TOY Filed June 17 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Se t. 7, 1937. w. o.YANCEY BLQCK TOY Filed June 17, 1956 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 IMWMWA MgL/AM Oxf/l/Cf/ BmcK William 0. Yancey,

Sanl'Francisco, Calif.

Application June 17, 1936, Serial No. 85,792

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in toys and has particularreference to block toys.

The principal object of this invention is to devise a plurality ofblocks which may be assembled so as to form a wheel toy, such as anarticulate streamlined train, consisting of two or more cars.

A further object is to produce a device of this character which willteach a child to assemble articles in proper sequence.

A further object is to produce a toy wherein the blocks may have acertain significance when viewed from one side, and then. when viewedfrom another, may carry indicia representing birds, animals, characters,or letters.

A further object is to produce a device of this character which iseconomical to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of thefollowing description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

Fig. l is, a side elevation of a plurality of my blocks assembled toform a train;

Fig. 2 is a. perspective view of Fig. 1 showing a portion of the blocksremoved and partly in cross section;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a roof block;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the body blocks;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the abutting roof blocks where the carsare hinged;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of my blocks;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the circular engine blocks;

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of one of the engine body blocks and thesupporting rails;

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of a modified form of block; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a modified form of block showing themanner in which it is assembled into the train structure.

Building blocks have always been considered beneficial to a childswelfare in that they are amusing to play with, educational, in thatblocks usually carry indicia thereon which familiarizes the child withvarious objects and which also trains the eye in positioning blocks oneupon another.

Applicant has, therefore, devised an arrangement wherein a plurality ofblocks of various shapes may be assembled so as to produce a train. Itis a well known fact that-children of both sexes enjoy trains,particularly when at the building block stage.

In the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration isshown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numerals 5 and 6designate the base blocks of two cars, the car 5 having wheels 1, andthe car 6 having wheels 8. These base blocks may be hinged one to theother in any convenient manner. Upon each base block are parallel rails,as shown at 9 and H. Pegs l2 and [3 may be positioned adjacent oppositeends of the cars and serve to position end blocks l4 and I6 and I4 andI6 respectively. Intermediate body blocks 23 are provided. These blocksI6 and 23 are provided with grooves I'I adjacent each corner thereof soas to receive the rails 9 and the down-turned ends 18 and [9 of the roofblocks 2|. These roof blocks have a groove 22 formed therein, parallelwith the length of the base blocks; the roof blocks 2| and 2| have theirends concaved and convexed respectively to permit the cars to pivot, andthe same is. also true of the base blocks 5 and 6. Body blocks arepositioned between the blocks l4 and I6 and are fastened in the samemanner so as to engage the rails 9 and II and to also position the roofblocks thereon. A cord 24 has one end secured to the fronting of thebase block and has its opposite end secured to the rear of the baseblock. This cord may be tightened in any desired manner or may consistof a rubber band. Thus, when the blocks are all assembled upon the car,the same will be held, as shown in Fig. 1.

In the modified form, shown in Figs. 6 to 10,

the same construction is employed, and, therefore, the same numerals areused, the only difierence being that by varying the contour of theblocks, I may produce a different shaped outline 'to the train. Forinstance, in Fig. '7, I have shown circular blocks 25, which, whenassembled upon blocks 26, effect a boilerlike appearance; and by sawingthe blocks diagonally, as shown in Fig. 9, I can assemble them so thatthey have the appearance of braces built into the car structure. Thissame manner of holding the blocks together is employed in both thepreferred and modified form.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a prefered example of the same and thatvarious changes relative to the material, size, shape and arrangement ofparts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a base block, a pair ofparallel rails positioned on said base block, end blocks removablysecured to said base block, body blocks interposed between said endblocks, said body blocks engaging said rails, roof blocks positioned onsaid end blocks and said body blocks, and means for holding said blocksto said base block.

2. In a device of the character described, a base block, a pair ofparallel rails positioned on said base block, end blocks removablysecured to said base block, body blocks engaging said rails, roof blockspositioned on said end blocks and said body blocks, means for holdingsaid blocks to said base block, said means including a groove formed insaid end blocks and said roof blocks and extending parallel with thelength of said base block, and a cord passed therethrough and its endssecured to said base block.

3. In a toy of the character described, a pair of base blocks hingedlysecured one to the other, end blocks secured to each of said baseblocks, intermediate blocks interposed between said end blocks, parallelrails mounted on said base blocks and serving to slidably position saidintermediate blocks, and flexible means secured to the opposite ends ofeach of said base blocks and overlying all of said blocks for thepurpose of maintaining said blocks in contact with said base blocks.

